Mac Peeps. I need your advice. Buying white Macbook

gjm · Post by **gjm** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:55 pm

Hi Everyone.

Funny how things work out. I am about to buy a new white Macbook. (Yes, I did just get a new PC desk top).

I have settled on this because of the FW400 option that is still available. I have the Alesis iO/14 Audio card, which is FW, and external HD's which have FW400 as well.

The spec's today on the Apple Website (as they have changed from yesterday

) are

2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo
2 Gb 667 Mhz DDR2 SDRAM
120 Gb SATA 5200rpm Hard Drive
Nvidia GeForce 9400M with 256 MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory

I will be Running Logic Express (might upgrade 1 day to Full Version)
Eventually full version of Live (if I get a coupon

)
Sibelius 5

Any input and tips are welcome.

Cheers. G.

Hidden Driveways · Post by **Hidden Driveways** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:03 pm

You should be fine with that machine, if Snow Leopard comes out soon.

Spring Bobcat, on the other hand, may slow you down during Obama's second term.

gjm · Post by **gjm** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:11 pm

Hidden Driveways wrote:You should be fine with that machine, if Snow Leopard comes out soon.

Ummm, So Snow Leopard is a version of the OS, but could you explain a little more how the current purchase might perform under par? (is that what you mean?)

jonny72 · Post by **jonny72** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:11 pm

Over on the Mac fan boy forums the general consensus is that this weeks update to the MacBook white is kick ass and makes the price difference to the other MacBook's pretty hard to justify.

I'd budget to upgrade the ram to 4gb (from somewhere like Crucial, not from Apple), especially as the graphics card can use 256mb now (it was only 144mb before). A bigger hard drive would be a good idea as well (again, don't buy it from Apple) - a lot easier doing this when you first get a new computer as you can just do a clean install straight away without having to worry about your data.

Only thing I'm wondering about is whether Snow Leopard and especially OpenCL will make much of a difference with an integrated graphics card. Audio software like Live shouldn't tax the graphics card that much which makes you think there would still be a fair bit of processing power left over to be tapped in to.

bendybones · Post by **bendybones** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:14 pm

Hi gjm
I don't use Logic or Sibelius but 2GHz will be fine for Live. More would be nice but you can definitely work with this.

Probably that white MB can take a max of 4GB RAM. If so it is worth buying a pair of 2GB sticks from crucial.com.
Some folks recommend NewEgg, but I don't really know that site.
On crucial.com it will tell u which RAM is compatible with your config (by scan or by inputting your specs)
Very good site, no probs with delivery, great prices.

If this is your first Mac and u go ahead with it, check out Carbon Copy Cloner for backup. Use it along-side Time Machine.

Although if you're ust getting the MB for the sake of having no FW issues, you should first check which FW chipset the MB has (probably Lucent) and then check with Alesis or other io/14 owners if it will run well on that chipset.

Ultimately if your only reason is FW compatibility, couldn't u just buy a Texas Instruments FW card for your desktop for a smooth 50$ (if that) and maybe use the rest of the money to upgrade Logic and/or Live?

condra · Post by **condra** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:34 pm

Snow Leopard wouldn't concern me. The only reason I run 10.5 on my iMac is because it came with it installed.
OSX is getting bloated IMO. Tiger was a great OS.

Enjoy your Macbook. I love mine.

heavensdaw · Post by **heavensdaw** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:39 pm

Sounds good! Go for it!

Hd

cdebari · Post by **cdebari** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:45 pm

Depends on what you plan on doing in live...
I have a 2.X2. MacBook Pro w/ Live 7 and the feedback when I am producing is not in real time (meters are a bit delayed at times)
Also when running certain VST's (Monochrome/Molar) Ableton will quit on me here and there.
I run a few pieces on midi hardware and it slows down the overall process of things at times.

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:52 pm

even I would buy that whitebook, man.

gjm · Post by **gjm** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:59 pm

bendybones wrote:Probably that white MB can take a max of 4GB RAM. If so it is worth buying a pair of 2GB sticks from crucial.com.
Some folks recommend NewEgg, but I don't really know that site.
On crucial.com it will tell u which RAM is compatible with your config (by scan or by inputting your specs)
Very good site, no probs with delivery, great prices.

As always, I am on a budget. I have decided on RAM and HD upgrades for the next Financial Tax Year.

If this is your first Mac and u go ahead with it, check out Carbon Copy Cloner for backup. Use it along-side Time Machine.

Yes it is my first Mac.

Although if you're ust getting the MB for the sake of having no FW issues, you should first check which FW chipset the MB has (probably Lucent) and then check with Alesis or other io/14 owners if it will run well on that chipset.

Good call. I didn't think about that.

Ultimately if your only reason is FW compatibility, couldn't u just buy a Texas Instruments FW card for your desktop for a smooth 50$ (if that) and maybe use the rest of the money to upgrade Logic and/or Live?

Actually, I am getting a Mac solely for GarageBand. I have an opportunity in the school I teach music in and my local community to develop a creative music program for primary age school kids. Of course, I want some extended personal benefits as well

Cheers.

gjm · Post by **gjm** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:01 pm

cdebari wrote:Depends on what you plan on doing in live...
I have a 2.X2. MacBook Pro w/ Live 7 and the feedback when I am producing is not in real time (meters are a bit delayed at times)
Also when running certain VST's (Monochrome/Molar) Ableton will quit on me here and there.
I run a few pieces on midi hardware and it slows down the overall process of things at times.

I am a lite user of Live. But in will grow into it as time goes by.

gjm · Post by **gjm** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:03 pm

Machinate wrote:even I would buy that whitebook, man.

Really! Thanks for the vote of confidence. I am actually very excited, but I am waiting for the wife to say.....Honey, get me one too

bendybones · Post by **bendybones** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:48 pm

gjm wrote:I have an opportunity in the school I teach music in and my local community to develop a creative music program for primary age school kids.

Nice

Baron von Case · Post by **Baron von Case** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:28 pm

I'd give you some advice about the matter but I've just recently done the same as you have. 2.4 Intel C2D, 120 GB HD, 2 GB memory. It's going nicely so far. Wish I had Logic.

Dalski · Post by **Dalski** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:32 pm

condra wrote:Snow Leopard wouldn't concern me. The only reason I run 10.5 on my iMac is because it came with it installed.
OSX is getting bloated IMO. Tiger was a great OS.

Enjoy your Macbook. I love mine.

"Snow Leopard" is "Leopard" on a diet, It's what Leopard should have been from the off so maybe it will concern you?? I think it'll be a worthwhile upgrade